However, although both yellow and red bell peppers saw price increases, the green ones lost value, with their price dropping by 0.11 Euro and reaching 0.99 Euro per kilo. Red bell peppers cost an average of 1.30 Euro per kilo, 0.06 more than in the previous year, while the yellow ones stood at 1.31 Euro on average, 0.12 more.
According to the information from the Council, bell peppers are the most representative commercial variety, accounting for 85% of the total volume of organic peppers marketed. 69% of the volume of organic bell peppers was marketed between October and January, compared to 81% last season.
Concerning sweet conical peppers, the Prices and Markets Observatory does not have figures for the previous season, since it is the first time that it has analysed the product's performance in terms of volume and prices in a single year. According to the information provided, a kilo of conical red peppers was sold at origin for 2.03 Euro, reaching over 2.5 Euro during the months of February and March 2017, which is when the highest prices were paid.
It was also at this same time when bell peppers reached their best prices, with the average exceeding 1.5 Euro per kilo. The price stayed at this same level during the month of April.
Under the organic denomination, the report of the Prices and Market Observatory includes mostly pepper varieties that are similar to Italian peppers from a morphological point of view, but which are characterised by a greater sweetness and demand on the part of the importers.
The crops are grown mainly in Almeria and Murcia and they are intended to ensure the supply of this product throughout the year. In April, the volume produced in Almeria's greenhouses decreases considerably and Murcia's production takes over.